| Summary: | In this study, the dominant lactic acid bacteria present in whole wheat sourdough was isolated and identified as Lactobacillus plantarum by molecular methods, before being utilized as the starter culture in the processing of sourdough cup breads. Subsequently, the effects of sourdough fermentation time, ash content, and sugar content on bread quality attributes were investigated by response surface methodology. In terms of the independent variables, the best polynomial models were fitted for bread hardness, chewiness, specific volume, total color difference (TCD), porosity and overall acceptability (OAA). Based on statistical analysis (P < 0.05), the effect of fermentation time on hardness and TCD was significant; ash content influenced specific volume and TCD significantly. In comparison with other functions, the interaction between fermentation time and sugar content had a significant (P < 0.05) influence on bread OAA. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation was ascertained between sourdough total titratable acidity and most of the quality attributes of cup bread (especially hardness, specific volume and OAA). Accordingly, the control of sourdough fermentation conditions is influential on microbial activity and metabolites, which affect bread quality characteristics.
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